Winter 2009
Cold Weather and Your Pets Vet Notes With Mel
First Pupp-a-ween Event A Success
According to Dr. Mel Shaw, BJC staff veterinarian, pet owners should take special precautions as the temperatures outside begin to fall. Mel recommends the following to make sure your pets are kept warm as cold weather sets in:
BJC Animal Control and Cross My Heart Dog Rescue held our first annual Puppa-ween event on Sunday, Oct. 25 at the Pickwick Plaza in Five Points South. Puppa-ween gave dogs the chance to trick or treat and don their favorite Halloween attire with their owners. In addition, several adoptable dogs were available – all in costume! Special thanks to Cross My Heart for their help and for all volunteers who made this event a success.
• Let your dogs spend time outside in the fall so that they develop a thicker winter coat. • Feed outside pets more in the winter months as they use extra energy to maintain their body temperature. • Make sure water outside isn’t frozen (keep fresh water in bowls). • A bed of straw or blankets outside will help shelter your pets from the wind and will help to retain body heat. • Small dogs with short hair coats and puppies should not be kept outside when it is cold. All pets should be brought in during extremely cold nights. • Remember to keep your pets away from antifreeze; if ingested, seek veterinary assistance immediately.
By adhering to the above and keeping your pets warm, you and your fur babies will be safe in winter and looking forward to spring!
Check Out Our New Web Site! BJC Animal Control recently launched our new and improved Web site: www.bjcanimalcontrol.com. The site includes information on services, adoptions, recent news and helpful tips. Be sure to look us up next time you’re on the Web!
Look for us online at www.bjcanimalcontrol.com and on Facebook by searching for “BJCACS Adoptions.” Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bjcanimal.
An Adoption to Celebrate
Welcome to the Family, Phil
Nothing makes us happier than to see one of our adoptable pets find a loving home, and the story of little Satomi is one that truly deserves applause. Robbie Glendinning came to BJC Animal Control this fall searching for a large breed dog. Her beloved 14-year-old, 150-pound dog had to be put down last year, and she wanted to adopt again. In thinking about the best size dog for her apartment, however, she decided to look at smaller breeds and noticed oneyear-old pit/terrier mix, Satomi (then named Daisy). Robbie said she knew then that this was the dog for her. Unwanted and given up, Robbie wanted to take her home and give her the love she so deserved.
BJC Animal Control would like to welcome Phil Doster, the facility’s new Adoption Coordinator, to our work family. A lover of animals himself, Phil is dad to five-year-old Olive (a rat terrier rescue) and cats, Pickles and Dahlia (both adopted from BJC). Prior to coming to BJC, he worked in Birmingham radio for approximately 10 years while also working with various rescue groups in Central Alabama. As he became more involved with BJC and rescue efforts, he knew he wanted to take an active role in dog and cat adoptions. Thus when a job opportunity arose at the facility, he jumped at the chance to fulfill his passion for animals in need. Let’s all wish Phil a very warm (and furry) welcome!
Don’t Miss Our Open House Celebration BJC Animal Control will host an Open House event for all Jefferson County residents and guests on Friday, December 4 from 11:00AM until 1:00PM. The event is free for all ages, and attendees will be able to visit the shelter, take pictures with Santa, talk with the staff and meet the many deserving animals available for adoption. Enjoy free hot dogs grilled by BJC’s own Steve Smith, along with other refreshments provided for guests. Animal rescue groups including Cross My Heart Dog Rescue, Bama Bully Rescue and The Sanctuary will be in attendance as well. BJC’s mobile adoption trailer and capturing equipment will be on display and shelter tours will be given every half hour. DON’T MISS IT!
Rabies and Animal Control
Robbie adopted Daisy, changed her name to Satomi (“beautiful” in Japanese), and now reports her little one is happy and healthy. Satomi is wonderful with children, cats and her sister, 14-year-old large-breed mix, Savannah. Congrats to this happy houseful of pets…and another successful BJC adoption story!
Did you know that in the 1950’s, Jefferson County was often referred to as “The Rabies Capital Of The World” due to its high number of reported cases? Rabies Control of Jefferson County/City of Birmingham was thus formed to provide and maintain an effective rabies control program for citizens and pets alike. As a result of those efforts, there has not been a single case of rabies in a domesticated dog or cat in Jefferson County in many years. In turn, Rabies Control has now evolved into Animal Control, and subsequently over 120,000 nuisance and dangerous dogs and cats have been removed from Jefferson County neighborhoods in the past 12 years. As we continue to serve this area, let us be reminded that the need is for us as humans and responsible pet owners to eliminate the need for such animal control programs by spaying and neutering our pets.